John Obi Mikel is set to become the latest player to swap the Premier League for the Chinese Super League as he heads to Tianjin TEDA.
The Daily Mail report that the Nigerian will be offered a three-year deal on £140,000 a week – it may not be the kind of wage packet we’ve come to expect from the Far East, but it has to be said it’s a lot more than the 29-year-old would be able to pick up at many clubs these days.
Antonio Conte has sidelined the midfielder since he took over from Guus Hiddink in the summer, preferring N’Golo Kante, Nemanja Matic, Cesc Fabregas and even youngster Nathaniel Chalobah in his position.
Given that even Fabregas and Chalobah are struggling for game time, there was never really any prospect of Mikel being offered a new deal, and that allowed him to speak to foreign clubs in the current transfer window.
Mikel’s other main option was to continue talks with Valencia, while Inter Milan and Marseille were also thought to be interested. Rather than pursue any of these European options, he’s opted for the new-found riches of Chinese football.
The two-time title winner will undergo a medical today.
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